Evaluating the Effect of Gender Inequality on Economic Growth in Countries with High Human Development Index

Abstract

Certainly, supporting and strengthen women's role in society results in improved health, higher levels of literacy and education, voluntary control population growth and hence improvement in economic growth and equitable distribution of benefits and wealth. To satisfy this end, there is urgent need to an important long-term process which requires some fundamental changes in cultural, social, political and economic beliefs. Also a different attitude is needed in which not only women's choices are not limited to stereotypical way, but considered as main factor for making differences. Given the above, this study sought to examine the effect of existing inequalities between men and women on economic growth in countries with high human development category (HDI) for the period 2002 to 2012. The results of the estimation model showed a negative relationship between inequality in life expectancy and disparities in wages with economic growth. In addition results showed a positive association between gender inequality and equality in education by economic growth rate. This means that reduction in gender inequality or in other words an increase in the equality of women and men in all areas related to the labor market, employment, education, and wages issues and full cultural equality in society will increase economic growth with high Human Development Index.